US OPEN

September 2, 2026

Ben Shelton

Press Conference

B. SHELTON/H. Hurkacz

6-3, 5-7, 7-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Ben, congratulations. You're very popular, so we're going to go right to the questions.

Q. Seemed like a little bit of an extra celebration at the end. Just talk about how it felt to get through that one.

BEN SHELTON: Yeah, for me, I know I was never, like, down in terms of set score, but the momentum definitely shifted. I mean, he hit another gear when I was up a set and a break, and the match was fully in my control to, you know, up in the air.

So I think, you know, the second half of the match, the level that he was playing, to be able to get out of that one in four sets, close it out the way I did, I thought that I found so many things in terms of game style that I want to be playing towards the end of that match. That was a big one for me.

I think that's why, you know, the emotions came out at the end. I was, you know, super excited to get through that one and relieved obviously, because I thought he was serving lights out, moving well, not making errors from the baseline, and it was a tall task today.

Q. To be pushed to that degree fairly early on in the tournament, can that benefit you, do you think, as you go on?

BEN SHELTON: 100%. 100%. I think being battle-tested is great. I don't think you want to be playing five-setters all the time.

Maybe I could have won this match more efficiently today, but I thought that, you know, a lot of it was just credit to him and the level that he started to bring. I think that had I not got pushed the way he pushed me today, there are so many things that I've wanted to clean up over the last couple of days that naturally came out and continued to improve throughout the match.

So yeah, I think you hit it spot on. Playing a match like that definitely, you know, benefits me moving forward.

Q. At least from the outside, there are big expectations for you in this tournament, especially with no Sinner and Novak out. How do you feel of those expectations that this could be your breakthrough tournament to end the American drought?

BEN SHELTON: I mean, I feel like I answer this question every press conference, for sure, especially here in New York, every single one.

You know, I can't tell you the last time I've thought about the American drought, other than, you know, being in these rooms. And I think that at the same time, you know, we have the defending champion this tournament. I think the player field has a lot of hot players right now.

I'm kind of just running my own race and focusing on the next round, thinking about the ways that I can improve and get better and continue to improve my game.

I think that, you know, this is a tournament that I always want to do well in, that I would love to be, you know, contending for and in the second week of.

But that's gotta be, you know, one step at a time. I think that all the questions that you asked, those thoughts only come up or are thought about if I get ahead of myself, and that's not what I'm looking to do.

Q. In that last set, obviously you guys were on serve, but you kept being...

BEN SHELTON: Scoreboard pressure, when you serve first in the set.

Q. Yeah. And you're sitting in the chair and you sort of have that advantage, what are you doing on the changeover, like, what is going through your head as you're sort of getting ready to receive and you know how decisive a break can be?

BEN SHELTON: I mean, I'm just trying to recover, refuel. To be honest, that's all I'm focused on. Yeah, it is nice coming out of the changeover with the opportunity to hopefully break and get a lead.

The way he was serving today, especially on those breakpoints, it was frustrating because I thought I was putting myself in positions to break over and over. I thought I returned well today.

He kept coming up with the goods. Aces on match point. Clutch stuff. So I just kind of had to wait for my chance to come around where I could capitalize.

But 100%, it's nice to be serving first, to have that advantage, the other guy have his back against the wall at the end of the sets, which wasn't the case in the second and the third.

Q. Are you thinking about the ball, like what you want to do on the next return?

BEN SHELTON: When I'm on the bench?

Q. Yeah.

BEN SHELTON: No, I'm not there yet. I'm still, you know, focused on drinking the water and got to catch my breath.

Q. Nice one, Ben. Not a tennis question, but you're one of the few guys who, I think, only ever wears tank tops. Does it make a difference to you, because you don't have to do the shrug or fix-your-shirt thing before your serve. Is there an actual, like, technical advantage or difference in wearing a tank top than when you play matches with short sleeves?

BEN SHELTON: Yeah, I just don't enjoy feeling that weight, like, hanging on my arm and having the water dripping. You know, if it cuts off here, then yes, some of the water will fall down, but you don't have the dripping effect down onto your wristband and hand.

I just think it's lighter, so for me, it's cleaner. I think that the less fabric the better when you're out there playing, especially in a humid climate.

And I will go back and forth sometimes at different tournaments, especially if it's not humid. But a place like this, I'm not planning on wearing sleeves in any of my matches here.

Q. You mentioned wanting to still clean some things up in your game. Can you point to what those things are you're looking to improve as the tournament progresses? How would you assess your form these first couple rounds?

BEN SHELTON: How's my kit?

Q. I like the night one a lot.

BEN SHELTON: So not the day one? Crazy shit, man. Who let him in here (smiling)?

Sorry, what was your question again? (Laughter.)

Q. Basically, what are you looking to improve upon? What are some of those things you want to improve upon?

BEN SHELTON: Yeah, I think obviously my spot serving is one. The last match in the beginning of the match today I wasn't hitting my backhand great. I think that that's something that I cleaned up a lot throughout the match today.

Return of serve is always something I'm trying to hone in on, and I think that pretty much every match where I have a great returning day ends up being a win for me.

I think that that's something that kind of comes with playing multiple matches on the same surface, starting to really feel the court how, you know, the serve reacts off the court, the timing.

There are so many things that go into returning, depending on the environment you're in, whether it's the backdrop on the screens in the stadium you're playing on or the way the ball reacts off the court.

I think that I'm getting closer and closer to where I want to be. I have played guys who served extremely well and had great serves these first two matches, so it's nice to be able to be tested in that way and have to, you know, return a lot on the stretch in compromised positions and try to find a way to put the ball in the court.

I think that obviously I'm working on everything and trying to hone in everything, but those are the points of emphasis.

Q. You just spoke about the things that you need to improve on. What do you think you have improved the most on since your first deep run here years ago?

BEN SHELTON: I think I'm a much better returner. I'm a more versatile player. I can win in different ways. I don't have to just go to the well and serve 150 miles an hour to get free points. There is other ways that I can construct the point and be effective.

I think I'm a much better mover, defender. I think that, you know, the amount of steals I get or my steal score has certainly gone up over the years, and I think I'm just, you know, a smarter player in general.

Q. Ben, well played today. This question for the moment is strictly hypothetical, because Shapovalov hasn't won yet. He's up a set, 3-3 in the second. He could be your third-round opponent. You've had a lot of success against him. What were your feelings about the matchup? It seems enticing to me because you're both high-energy players. I wonder if you enjoy playing that type of player and have that type of excitement in your matches?

BEN SHELTON: Yeah, I love playing him a lot. I think it's a fun matchup, an entertaining matchup. I think he's an outstanding player and outstanding ball striker.

Like you said, I think he's electric out on the court, and every match that we've played has been a fun matchup. It's always, you know, a different kind of challenge playing against a lefty.

But on the other hand, if I end up playing Van Assche, another young player who's had a lot of success as of late, I think he's got a lot of talent and a great game. Either way, looking forward to a good opportunity to get out there and perform.

Q. You have become a mainstay in Arthur Ashe Stadium. What does Arthur Ashe and his legacy mean to you personally?

BEN SHELTON: It means a lot. I think that without Arthur Ashe, my dad probably would have never been playing tennis or had the opportunities that he had to go so far in this sport. This sport has given my family a lot.

I think that it's really cool to be able to recognize that and be a part of history every time, playing in a stadium with his name on it. I think that's a pretty great honor to have the biggest stadium in tennis named after you and very, very well-deserved.

There are so many other trailblazers, as well. Not just Americans but people of color from a lot of different countries who kind of paved the way for us, to have opportunities that we have nowadays, including my dad.

Yeah, just super grateful. For every opportunity that I get to play in this stadium is an honor for me, and I enjoy it more than anything in the sport.